Hargus
Melvin Robbins was born January 18th, 1938 in Spring City, TN. For over three
decades, Hargus "Pig" Robbins remained one of the top session keyboardists in
Nashville, and played with some of country music's most illustrious stars. When
Hargus was 2 and a half years old he accidentally put out his eye while playing
with his father's knife. Although the eye was eventually removed it had already
affected his other eye and he went totally blind by age four. He began learning
classical piano at age seven while attending the Tennessee School for the Blind
in Nashville, and was influenced by the music of Tex Ritter, his idol. It was at
this school he got the nickname "Pig". Robbins learned country music by
listening to records and the radio, and after leaving the school, he began
playing in various Nashville clubs. After playing on a friend's demo, he joined
the Musician's Union and became a session man, and in 1959, he played on George
Jones' "White Lightning." In 1963, Robbins recorded a solo album, A Bit of
Country Piano. He also played on non-country albums; a 1966 appearance on Bob
Dylan's Blonde on Blonde left him in great demand with pop, folk and country
artists. In 1969 he released "One More Time" on the Chart label. By this time he
was already the preferred piano player on most of the Chart sessions. In the
70's he appeared on many, many albums both in country and rock. In 1976, 77,
79-82, and 1984 he was voted the Academy of Country Music's Keyboardist of the
year. Also in 1976 he was voted Musician of the Year. In 1977 he received a
Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance for his first Elektra LP
"Country Instrumentalist of the Year". In 1978, Robbins released "Pig in a
Poke", his second album for Elektra. He closed out the 70's with his 3rd and
final Elektra LP, "Unbreakable Hearts". Even though younger keyboardists
appeared continually in Nashville, Robbins remained the first choice of many
artists, and played with Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, Tanya
Tucker, Ronnie Milsap, Tom T. Hall, Alan Jackson, Mark Chesnutt, George Jones
and Travis Tritt.Portions - Sandra Brennan All Music Guide